Browsing through Pinterest for hairstyle inspo is honestly a favorite pastime of mine. Lately, I've had braids on the brain, scrolling through summer-inspired styles, and I'm kind of obsessed. So many celebs have been spotted in braids recently — especially our fave Taylor Swift who sports the style almost every time she's papped as of late. And while the tried-and-true simple braid is always a smooth move, there are so many different ways to incorporate braids into your hair for summer! We chatted with braids specialist, Ellie Mulqueen and founder of The Roslyn, Katelyn Ellsworth to learn more about these sweet styles. So keep scrolling for even more ways to add a little flair to your hair with our favorite braided hairstyles!
Half-Up Braided Crown
Photo via Ellie Mulqueen
This is a super simple style that we'd love to see you rock! And we have all the details on how you can achieve it! Our hair expert, Mulqueen, says, "Take two small sections of hair from each side of your head, braid them, and secure them at the back of your head to create a braided crown effect while leaving the rest of your hair down. You can dress this style up or down, it’s perfect for summer!" And voila, it's as easy as that! We can not wait to try this one. It's perfect for weddings or any events where you want to dress up your hair a little bit!
Bubble Braids
Photo via Getty
One of our favorite looks for summer are forever and always bubble braids! To achieve this, you simply need colorful hair bands and lots of braided sections to add texture.
Ellsworth says, "Braids are amazing for the summer and can be worn in so many different ways. Styling, even the most basic of braids can be fun. Using glitter, earrings, or even pops color with string or extensions is always a fun way to dress up a basic “B” braid. Using multiple braid techniques on one style is going to be seen a lot this year in festivals and in the wild." She adds, "Taking it back to Brittany style with crimps/waves and micro braids will be making it back into 2024 summertime. So get your accessories and your braid guides ready to the room with your style and accessorized braids."
Bubble braids are definitely the perfect way to standout and add some statement pieces to your hairstyle! Throw in some butterfly clips, and you're a Y2K goddess for sure!
Fishtail braid
Photo via Ellie Mulqueen
One bonus about this braid? It keeps your hair out of your face and from getting knotted. Mulqueen says, "Adding braids into your hairstyles for summer is a great way to keep your hair healthy and tangle free!" And this fishtail braid is sure to protect your hair in such a cute way! Simply take a piece from either side and tuck it in-between; just repeat this until you get the braid you want!
Ponytail Braid
Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images
We simply adore this look on Zendaya, and we definitely think this style will will pop up more and more with the rise of tenniscore and impending beach days! It's so simple that all you need to do is put your hair in a slicked-back ponytail, braid the ponytail like you would normally, then put in a bow for added effect! And there you have a chic, fun hairstyle for the summer!
Floral Fun
Photo via Ellie Mulqueen
I absolutely love this braid hairstyle for summer! You can find some flowers (fresh or fake) and pin them to your hair with either clips or bobby-pins and there you have it; a fresh bouquet braid! However, if you're less interested in (or don't have time for) the DIY of it all, you can also just buy clips that have these details on them already at Target or Amazon. I love how elegant this style looks, especially for the upcoming wedding season! This looks straight from our Pinterest board and I need to try it so don't mind me running to Trader Joe's for some fresh flowers immediately...
Braided Bun
Photo via Ellie Mulqueen
For this style, it may seem complicated, but it's actually quite simple! You braid a tiny section of hair (like the small, center braid above) and then do a very loose fishtail braid underneath it. For a fishtail, all you do is divided the hair into two sections and take pieces from the outer edges of either side and drag them to the middle one at a time. Then put your hair into a messy, chic bun like so! We love this fun style for wedding season, too!
Which variation of the modern shag would you try? Follow us on Pinterest for more hair inspo!
Header image via Getty